northmn
10-07-2018, 08:21 AM
There's and individual on another site that's into the 38-55 and has posted pictures of groups around 1" with his Marlin CB and a commercial cast bullet. He has done a lot of shooting and has used different calibers. My contention with the individual comes as he swears up and down that performance of the 38-55 actually goes down after 1500 fps because penetration lessens.
Now those of us with any experience expect that at higher velocities the bullets start deforming more and possibly even fragmenting. We have to match the alloy with the velocity. One of the best bullets I have ever used in a 30-30 was one I cast which consisted of lead wheel weight but was water hardened and then annealed at the nose. Took several steps to do so but I could drive it at 2000fps (chronographed) and it expanded at 150 yards. Got deer with it but never recovered any bullets as it shot through them. Typical store bought bullets have a harder alloy, typically the 92-6-2 "hardcast lead-antimony-tin mixture. Likely what he was shooting.
Has anyone hunted with these commercial bullets and what are your impressions as to their expansion at what velocities? I really don't have any experience with them in the field other than in pistols like my 45 Colt loaded to normal velocities and some 125grain bullets I bought for my 357 rifle but are loaded down a bit. Most of my bullets have been home cast Starting with round ball for a muzzle loader, tin/lead for BP cartridges and then modern rifles.
For deer I do not like non expanding bullets.
DP
Now those of us with any experience expect that at higher velocities the bullets start deforming more and possibly even fragmenting. We have to match the alloy with the velocity. One of the best bullets I have ever used in a 30-30 was one I cast which consisted of lead wheel weight but was water hardened and then annealed at the nose. Took several steps to do so but I could drive it at 2000fps (chronographed) and it expanded at 150 yards. Got deer with it but never recovered any bullets as it shot through them. Typical store bought bullets have a harder alloy, typically the 92-6-2 "hardcast lead-antimony-tin mixture. Likely what he was shooting.
Has anyone hunted with these commercial bullets and what are your impressions as to their expansion at what velocities? I really don't have any experience with them in the field other than in pistols like my 45 Colt loaded to normal velocities and some 125grain bullets I bought for my 357 rifle but are loaded down a bit. Most of my bullets have been home cast Starting with round ball for a muzzle loader, tin/lead for BP cartridges and then modern rifles.
For deer I do not like non expanding bullets.
DP